Home Styles In Santa Monica California

Spanish Colonial Revival homes have a classic Spanish appearance. The homes are rather large and spacious thanks to their “simi-open” floor plan. Storybook entry foyers will lead you into large living quarters and the beautiful vaulted beams are designed with great craftsmanship.

Colonial homes can be found more in the suburbs of L.A., and they are very popular in the San Fernando Valley. The architecture of the Colonial isn’t very complex with its square/rectangular lines. Generally two-story, Colonial homes have a central doorway for entry with paired windows on each side.

Mid-Century Modern homes have been around for decades, hence the name. These homes tend to have a futuristic appearance thanks to their geometric designs.

The architecture is all about bringing the outdoors, to the indoors via large window panes, skylights and open floor plans. What makes (Mid-Modern) homes so distinct is that many of the houses have a mixture of rectangular lines and sweeping curves.

Bungalow homes are some of the most common homes in California as well as the U.S. The California Bungalow, hence the name, is a basic one or two story house with sloping roofs, unenclosed rafters and dormer windows.

Mediterranean homes can be found throughout the metropolitan area thanks to the city’s Mediterranean influence. These homes give you that laid back California vibe thanks to the open floor plans, abundance of French doors and spacious living/bedrooms.

Mediterranean homes have a formal look for the interiors with their romantic fireplaces and dark hardwood floors.

Home Addition Contractors For Bungalow Homes in Santa Monica

Bungalow homes are some of the most common homes in California as well as the U.S. The California Bungalow, hence the name, is a basic one or two story house with sloping roofs, unenclosed rafters and dormer windows. These homes tend to be quite small in-general, but they’re located all over the city in places such as:

Echo Park
Riverside
Highland Park
Watts
And more 

Bungalows generally have wooden shingles, stucco exteriors and horizontal siding. They can sometimes have a mixture of brick & stone lower halves with a wood panel upper half. Most average sized bungalows have partial wide front porches, but larger bungalows tend to have an “L” shaped asymmetrical  porch. Interiors are usually small with a simple layout.

Ceiling are rather low, but these homes are great for renovating. Since these dwellings are more “blue collar,” cheaper remodels is a cash saver. Old hardwood floors can be stripped and replaced with more updated vinyl or laminate. Tile counter tops can be replaced with ceramic and porches can be enclosed, which will create an all-new look.

Questions before the bungalow home addition

It is advisable to pre-screen several contractors before awarding the project to a particular room addition contractor. Here are some things to keep in consideration as you go through the process:

As the contractor how long he/she has been dealing with bungalow style home additions. Confirm whether they are able to keep the new structure consistent with the current one. It’s important that you see their recent projects. Ask for a reference list and contact at least three references.

The contractor or company you are hiring must be properly insured in Santa Monica to protect you from emerging liabilities.

Ask for written estimates, times frames etc to be included in the contract. This is negotiable.

Contractors For Spanish Colonial Revival Home Additions in Santa Monica

Spanish Colonial Revival homes have a classic Spanish appearance. The homes are rather large and spacious thanks to their “simi-open” floor plan. Storybook entry foyers will lead you into large living quarters and the beautiful vaulted beams are designed with great craftsmanship.

The architecture in (Spanish Revivals) often offer sunken/step down rooms, large walk-in closets and sweeping staircases. Popular sub-styles include:

Colonial: Elegant masonry, brick chimneys & shutters
Tudor: English (Medieval) country style
Storybook: French farm houses with exaggerated roofs 

Spanish Revival homes tend to have renovations in the kitchen/breakfast room areas. Granite counter tops and hardwood flooring from brands such as Kahrs, Armstrong and Casabella Hardwood are very common.

Home Addition Contractors For Mediterranean Style Homes in Santa Monica

Mediterranean homes can be found throughout the metropolitan area thanks to the city’s Mediterranean influence. These homes give you that laid back California vibe thanks to the open floor plans, abundance of French doors and spacious living/bedrooms. Mediterranean homes have a formal look for the interiors with their romantic fireplaces and dark hardwood floors.

Since hardwood tends to breaks down over time with scratches/scuffs, many people have substituted it with tile, which comes in numerous styles/colors. Kitchens are generally large as well with breakfast nooks that connect to open family rooms. Granite counter tops are common, but could easily be renovated with Soapstone, Quartz or Stainless Steel.

Mediterranean Homes usually have back yards, which are great for outdoor activities or for remodeling projects thanks to the extra square footage. These homes are generally found in the more exclusive neighborhoods of  Bel Air, Westwood and the Hollywood Hills, but there are many hidden jewels spaced throughout city.

Contractors For Colonial Style Home Additions in Santa Monica

You will do well to make sure the contractor performs the addition project so that the house does not lose the charm you that attracted you to the home in the first place.  Keep the design congruent . Common reasons home owners opt for a home addition is to support a growing family. If that is the case here and you need to add a bedroom perhaps a second story is an option for private space.

Not to be confused with the Southern Colonial homes, which are very long and flat, these dwellings tend to have more styling with a brick masonry lower half and a wooden plank upper half. Here are two different styles below:

Modern Colonial: Clean lines, high sloped roofing with contemporary elements
Ranch Colonial: Long & wide dwellings with many windows of different shapes/sizes

These homes have a lot of renovation potential thanks to their box shape. Tile floors and walls are common here, but many homeowners have opted to go with a more modern look.

Being remodeled with laminate and vinyl floors not only saves money, these materials come in numerous colors, designs and are easily implemented into the home’s blueprint. Removing tiles from walls and replacing them with a “Backsplash” is another great renovation feature.

Contractors For Mid-Century Modern Style Home Additions in Santa Monica

Mid-Century Modern homes have been around for decades, hence the name. These homes tend to have a futuristic appearance thanks to their geometric designs. The architecture is all about bringing the outdoors, to the indoors via large window panes, skylights and open floor plans. What makes (Mid-Modern) homes so distinct is that many of the houses have a mixture of rectangular lines and sweeping curves.

This type of design is used for bringing in modernism to the cookie cutter suburban styled homes. Bulky indoor walls are eliminated with the architectural post and beam design. Many of the indoor walls are full panels of glass. Real Estate Developer Joseph Eichler, introduced this style of architecture to numerous L.A. County subdivisions

Mid-Century Modern homes can be found throughout the area such as in Burbank, the Hollywood Hills, Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica. Being so modern, the homes tend to come with luxury finishes, 12 foot high ceilings, quartz counter tops and custom acrylic cabinets. Since many of the homes are very modernized, most homeowners do not implement much in-terms of renovation features unless it’s minor.